The Congress party on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of displaying “moral cowardice” during his recent visit to Israel amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
The congressional remarks came soon after Israel and the US carried out strikes targeting nuclear and military sites in Iran.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Israel for two days earlier this week, days before Israel and the United States launched a joint military strike against Iran. Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the latest development was widely expected given the troop buildup in the region over the past few months.
Ramesh said that despite clear signs of impending conflict, PM Modi “still decided to go to Israel”, where he publicly declared India’s stand with Israel and accepted the award. The Congress leader termed the visit “disgraceful” and claimed it sent the wrong diplomatic signal amid growing regional instability.
“PM aligned too closely”
“Two days after Mr. Modi celebrated his visit to Israel, Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran. It was fully expected given their military build-up in the past few months,” Ramesh said. He further claimed that the Prime Minister had grown too close to the leaders he described as his “good friends”, even when the war broke out.
During his two-day visit to Israel on February 25-26 Congress party slammed PM Modi for his address to the Israeli parliament, calling it a “shameless defense” of his host Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.
The opposition party also impeached India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehruand his July 1947 reply to Physicist Albert Einstein regarding the creation of Israel.
Modi arrived in Israel on February 25 for a two-day visit aimed at deepening ties with a key trade and defense partner, a trip that drew criticism at home from the opposition camp.
On his first day, Modi received a standing ovation from Israeli lawmakers as he pledged “friendship, respect and partnership” with Israel at a time when its standing in the world has suffered due to war in Gaza.
The US and Israel attacked Iran
Addressing Israel’s Knesset parliament, Modi described the Gaza peace initiative as a path to a “just and lasting peace” in the region. He also issued a message of solidarity with Israel, declaring that “terrorism everywhere threatens peace everywhere.”
The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with the first apparent strike near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Associated Press reported. Iranian media reported nationwide strikes and smoke could be seen rising from the capital, the report said.
This was fully expected given their military build-up over the past few months.
President Donald Trump he also said in a video posted on social media that the US had launched “major combat operations in Iran”. Trump wanted a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program and sees an opportunity as the country grapples with growing dissent at home after nationwide protests, the Associated Press reported.
